Kent schools complete health challenge

The challenge, commissioned by The Food Standards Agency and run by National Children's Bureau in partnership with the Kent Healthy Schools Programme, asked children, teachers, school staff and parents to identify one challenge they would like to work to improve in their health. The three challenges were healthy eating, feeling good inside and physical activity. Three primary schools (St James the Great primary and Nursery School, West Malling; Green Park Community Primary School, Dover and Lawn Primary School, Gravesend, and three secondary schools (Minister College; The Marlowe Academy, Ramsgate and New Line Learning Academy, Maidstone) all took part in the initiative. Pupils kept journals of activities and progress throughout the four week plan. The results of this will be available later this year. KCC and NCB hosted an event at the University of Greenwich Centre in Kings Hill last week (7 May) to thank the schools for participating and to celebrate their achievements. Paralympic gold medal winner Giles Long MBE talked about the difficult challenges he has faced in his life and how he overcame them. He then went on to present certificates to the schools, and Academy of Culinary chef Rob Kurby showed guests how to have fun with food. Chris Wells, KCC Cabinet Member for children, families and educational standards, and Jo Butcher, NCB assistant director, spoke about the project and its achievements: "Schools have been very creative and undertook a range of whole school, class and individual challenges. The Health Challenge programme is being evaluated at the moment…feedback from schools so far indicates that it's already made a difference." Jo Butcher went on to explain the feedback they got back from kids: "Children and young people told us that they needed help to initiate and maintain lifestyle changes that would help them be healthier now and in the future. The Health Challenge aims to make being healthy fun, natural and desirable, recognising that small steps lead to big changes."